by Ning er
Yun Qian Meng listened to Qu Zhang Qing’s explanation. Doubt crossed in her heart. She glanced once at Qu Fei Qing who had her head lowered and said softly: “It’s just that we didn’t expect not even in a million years, that Hai wang had injured his legs and is now sitting in a wheelchair!”
Hearing that, Qu Zhang Qing’s eyes flashed surprise. He shook his head slightly and then said with regret: “The emperor sent physicians every month to Hai wang, but it’s said that they can only suppress the symptoms and not the core of the illness. In the end, he’s badly injured and hasn’t appeared in front of people for many years. If we didn’t come today, we probably have never known this!”
Hearing that, Yun Qian Meng lowered her head. Her heart was still skeptical about Hai wang’s attitude. In particular, their dialogue just now seems to be informing everyone that his legs was badly injured and can’t walk.
Yun Qian Meng was staring at the fan in her hands. From the corner of her eye, she saw that Qu Fei Qing was absently playing with her fan, so she stretched her hands out and grabbed that fan. Her eyes looked once at the young man standing behind Hai wang and whispered: “Biaojie, presumably that man is the one Hai wangfei mentioned.”
Qu Fei Qing immediately raised her head and looked at Yun Qian Meng. She didn’t know that Yun Qian Meng’s observation power was so strong. She nodded helplessly and said in a low voice: “That is Hai wang’s fifth son Hai Chen Xi. Its Hai wang and the late cefei Qin shi’s only son and also Hai wang’s most favorite son. Today you also saw that this person is full of evil aura and makes people’s hearts get the chills. Such a person, how can he be a husband?”
Listening to her remark, Yun Qian Meng turned around. She saw that Hai Chen Xi was staring with narrowed eyes at Hai wangfei. Although there’s still a smile on Hai wangfei’s mouth, her eyes showed a trace of hatred. Surely the relation between the two was not as harmonious as on the surface.
She was about to retrieve her gaze when she saw that Hai Tian was staring love-struck at Chu Fei Yang and Chu Fei Yang was staring with smiling eyes at herself (YQM). She didn’t have the chance to look the other way when Hai Tian’s eyes fired with anger at her, making Yun Qian Meng glare at Chu Fei Yang once before she focused again on Qu Fei Qing. She carefully appeased her: “If biaojie doesn’t want, you can explain it to Lao Tai Jun and jiujiu. I believe that they will put biaojie’s happiness on the first place.”
Qu Fei Qing was just about to speak when from the front came Hai Tian’s slightly sharp voice: “Miss Yun as xiangfu’s lady, why are you sitting at such a remote place? Would that not make Hai wangfu seem as though it doesn’t have any rules?”
At Hai Tian’s words, everyone turned to look at Yun Qian Meng who wanted to keep a low profile
Yun Qian Meng sighed in her heart. She couldn’t help but blame Chu Fei Yang. If it wasn’t for him, would she have become a fish being fired at? She can only stand up and reply with a smile: “Asking for forgiveness from wangye! It’s just that wangye said that we didn’t need to bother with etiquettes so much, so chennu just sat on a seat closest to me!”
Yun Qian Meng’s answer made people unable to find faults with it. She took Hai wang as cover and just sat a seat nearest to her. She didn’t offend anyone, but it let Hai Tian’s expression sank. She spoke again: “Last time at Fu Guo Gong Fu’s Lao Tai Jun’s birthday, I tasted miss Yun’s cooking. Presumably miss Yun is well versed in the four arts. Hai Tian is someone who loves people with talent. Today I would like to learn from miss Yun!”
After the people heard Hai Tian’s words, they looked pitifully at Yun Qian Meng. After all, Hai Tian is a famous talented woman of Xi Chu and Yun Qian Meng from her birth until now, she didn’t make a name. This Hai Tian took something that she is good at to compare with others, doesn’t it mean that she wants to see Yun Qian Meng become a joke?
Yun Qian Meng saw that Hai Tian was eager to let her make a fool of herself, but she didn’t get angry, instead she said, rather modestly: “Junzhu is the talented woman of Xi Chu. Chennu just learned a few simple things at home. It can’t be compared with junzhu!”
With this answer, it seems like she’s somewhat accusing Hai Tian of bullying. Plus the fact of Hai Tian’s interpersonal skills which give people a domineering feeling, Yun Qian Meng won a lot of sympathy votes.
“Fuwang hasn’t even had a meal yet and xiaomei already wants to compete. Isn’t that a little bit too impatient?”
At this time, that Hai Chen Xi opened his mouth to help Yun Qian Meng and attracted Hai Tian’s anger. But he turned a blind eye to it and only looked sincerely at Hai wang. He suggested: “The housekeeper must’ve already prepared all. Asking fuwang to please change locations!”
Hai wang saw that Hai Chen Xi was rarely so serious, he couldn’t help but sigh in his heart. He immediately smiled and nodded. Then he commanded: “Since it’s like this, then asking everyone to come with benwang.”
After saying that, Hai wang’s calm eyes unintentionally swept over Yun Qian Meng’s lowered head and then he was pushed out of ‘Sui Yi Yuan’ by Hai Chen Xi.
Hai Tian and Hai wangfei both with the same bad expression exchanged a glance with each other. Although she was upset, she could only follow Hai wang out of the garden.
Everyone was confused, were they not dining in ‘Sui Yi Yuan’?
It’s just that the hosts were now gone and they didn’t see the servants come out to serve dinner, so they could only follow them out.
Yun Qian Meng stood up and was about to follow when her sleeves was pulled by someone. Qu Fei Qing whispered: “Meng er, if Hai Tian’s still so provocative later, just say that your body’s at discomfort to avoid falling into her trap.”
Qu Zhang Qing also had a worried expression. Seeing that meimei was thinking like him, he used his eyes to tell Yun Qian Meng to do what his meimei had said.
Yun Qian Meng patted on Qu Fei Qing’s delicate hand and said: “Biaoge, biaojie, rest assured. Since I’ve come, I will not be afraid of her!”
The two siblings saw that Yun Qian Meng looked firm. It seems that she had come prepared. Their hearts slightly eased. The three also quickly walked out of the garden.
Everyone crossed Hai wangfu’s front yard and went through a bamboo forest. Finally, they stepped inside a primeval forest and came eye to eye with a boundless lake. At this time, it’s noon, the sunlight was just right. The golden sunlight fell on the lake and the mountain wind slightly brushed on the surface of the lake, making the water sparkle, stunning everyone’s eyes.
Here, it’s clearly in the middle of the mountain, so why is there a lake? And where does this water come from? Strings of questions immediately went into everyone’s brain.
Hai wang only smiled without much concern. Then he looked once at the housekeeper. The housekeeper clapped his hands twice. Hidden in the forest, a ship with a golden jade eagle carved on it sailed out.
A ship about 100 feet tall and 500 feet long with three floors. On the body, there were rising clouds carved on it and inscribed with gold. It showed Hai wangfu’s honor and style.
Today, all of these gongzis and ladies were born from rich and wealthy familes. What good things have they not seen? But the ship that could be seen on the lake shook them. Now the eyes that were looking at Hai wang have some more things into them.
Hai wang cheerfully explained: “Thank to the emperor’s grace. He knows that laochen can’t get out of this Yang Ming Mountain and granted this artificial lake for me to enjoy leisure time.”
After hearing this, everyone understood in their hearts. Only Hai wang will get such a meritorious award.
At this time, two guards simultaneously appeared beside Chu Fei Yang and Jiang Mu Chen. Those two guards whispered in the two’s ears. Chen wang’s expression turned even colder and the smile on Chu Fei Yang’s face turned deeper.
Hai wang saw it but didn’t ask. He only let the servants help the gongzis and misses onto the ship.
After everyone boarded the ship,
they saw that Hai wang had already prepared the dinner. At this time, they could sit on the ship and enjoy the delicious food and the unique beauty of outside. This really was another enjoyment, making everyone’s heart thrill.
Naturally, Hai wang sat at the same table as Chen wang and Chu Fei Yang. Three people with three different kinds of expressions. Because of Hai wang’s love, Hai Chen Xi was allowed to sit beside him. Hai wang had a warm expression, Jiang Mu Chen had a cold expression, Chu Fei Yang was smiling without a words and evil aura is emitting from Hai Chen Xi. The ladies felt that one pair of eyes was not enough. Their gazes kept going from Jiang Mu Chen to Chu Fei Yang to Hai Chen Xi.
Compared with Jiang Mu Chen who has a noble aura, Chu Fei Yang dressed in black gave a more mysterious feeling. Gold trims at the hem gave out a dignified aura. Especially with his handsome appearance, smiling with deep silence made everyone feel more at ease. And Hai Chen Xi, although he’s elegant and handsome, he’s a bit feminine and emitted an evil aura. People couldn’t help but stay far away from him and preferred Jiang Mu Chen.
Time slowly passed. Perhaps it’s because Hai wang didn’t bother with the outside world for so long, so he’s now having some good talks with Chen wang and Chu Fei Yang. The ladies felt bored and excused themselves. Together, they boarded the third floor and watched the sun move to the west. It’s a wonderful view.
At this time, from the cabin on the first floor came a melodious sound of guqin. The people marched to the first floor and saw Hai Tian sitting in front of the guqin. Her elegant and slender fingers stroked the strings and played the song she’s most good at, ‘Ambush from ten sides’. Next popped up the song ‘Feng Qiu Huang2’.
And sitting opposite Hai Tian is Chu Fei Yang. And while Hai Tian’s playing, she’s staring boldly at Chu Fei Yang. Her eyes showed that she must have him.
Hai Tian’s heart’s now well known but only Chu Fei Yang’s expression didn’t change. He’s toasting and chatting with Hai wang. He didn’t even take a look at Hai Tian.
After the song was completed, everyone was amazed. Only the four people at Hai wang’s table seemed like they didn’t hear the beautiful song of the qin.
Hai Tian didn’t seem very concerned. She recovered her gaze from Chu Fei Yang and looked at Yun Qian Meng. She smiled: “Does miss Yun knows the song of just now?”
Yun Qian Meng saw Hai Tian acting like this, she recited: “A beautiful person came who, after one glance, won’t be forgotten. One day he didn’t come, she went crazy. The phoenix (Feng) flew and went through the four seas to seek phoenix (Huang). He wasn’t at the east wall, the helpless beauty wrote the song. When this poem is seen, help me look for phoenix. No matter how far away, we will join hands. No matter how long, till I degenerate. Junzhu played a good song. This ‘Feng Qui Huang’ is really epic, but it’s extremely bold. Chennu really admire junzhu’s courage!”
Everyone still hadn’t recovered from Hai Tian unique sound of the qin when they were shocked by Yun Qian Meng’s poem. They were confused at how this miss of xiangfu, who rarely appeared in front of everyone, was actually also an expert. Without a trace, she made people aware of her literary talent and also implied that Hai Tian lacked morality. She hadn’t even married yet but already can’t wait to express her love to a man!
For a time, the impression that Hai Tian and Yun Qian Meng gave everyone switched. Yun Qian Meng had gradually gone to the literary side and Hai Tian’s went to someone lacking virtues. And Chu Fei Yang who had turned a blind eye at Hai Tian, when Yun Qian Meng began to recite ‘Feng Qui Huang’, he put down the glass of wine. His eyes quickly passed over Yun Qian Meng’s calm expression. Those lips which touched the wine moved up slightly.
And Jiang Mu Chen, after seeing Yun Qian Meng’s unexpected performance, became curious. He didn’t bother anymore with Hai wang and stared at Yun Qian Meng. He seemed like he wanted to see something from Yun Qian Meng’s expression. Only at this time, Yun Qian Meng was too calm. Aside from a small smile, people can’t read anything more from her expression. It made Jiang Mu Chen be disappointed but he also looked forward to the next surprise she’d give him.
From the beginning, Rong Yun He had been sitting alone. His eyes were on the lake outside the ship, but when Yun Qian Meng cleverly humiliated Hai Tian, he grinned
Although Hai Tian heard the sarcasm in Yun Qian Meng’s words, but because her crush was here, she couldn’t take her anger out so she walked towards the already prepared instruments. She looked at Yun Qian Meng and smiled: “Don’t know which musical instruments miss Yun has specialized in.”
Yun Qian Meng no longer evaded and also smiled: “Chennu is not talented and can’t play the guqin like junzhu with so much feeling, but my pipa can let people hear it.”
After saying that, she didn’t wait for Hai Tian and sat on the chair. She picked up the pipa and played a few notes. Then she said: “At this time, the sun is setting, the night is coming. Chennu will play the song ‘River on a Spring Night’ for everyone.”
Saying that, Yun Qian Meng lightly twisted the strings and made a smooth sound. At this time, the sun was fading from the horizon. The sky’s gradually dimming down. The servants of Hai wangfu hanged the already prepared lanterns at every corner of the boat. The birds also stopped chirping. Aside from the paddling sound, there’s only the sound of the pipa.
Yun Qian Meng’s technique is good and along with the fact that the sound was compatible with the atmosphere, it made people stand inside and enjoy the beauty at the lake. And the sound of the pipa let people enter the landscape of a painting. The quiet spring night. The moon rose above the mountain. The waves under the boat were moving. The gentle moving made shadows sway on the stunning view of the nature. This scene entered everyone’s eyes.
After the song ‘River on a Spring Night’ ended, the people hadn’t recovered yet from the beautiful scene.
Yun Qian Meng put down the pipa and looked up. She saw those really dark eyes of Chu Fei Yang looking at her with a smile. Those lips were raised in a graceful arc, showing his good mood at the moment.
Chu Fei Yang only stared at Yun Qian Meng. A cool and bright voice slowly read out an improvisation of poetry: “Spring tide at sea level, the moon on the river come to live. With the toss of the waves, it traveled thousands of miles. Where the spring river doesn’t have a moon, it’ll be dark. The moon shone brightly on the flowers in the forest. Inside their emptiness, frost flew inside. The whiteness made them invisible. The spring night doesn’t have a speck of dust. In the clear bright sky, there’s only the lonely full moon. Who will be the first to see the moon at the river? When at the beginning of the year will the moon shine on people? Life has many infinite generations. The river and the moon look similar every year. Don’t know who the river and moon are waiting on, but seeing the long river send the water away, the white clouds also followed. The youthful maple went on top of the riverbank without worries. Whose family tonight will skiff a son? Where will the bright moon yearn to go? Feeling pity for last month for pacing back and forth, ought to have shined on the mystical person in front of the mirror. Didn’t go to the household with a flag. Brushed against the laundry clothes on the next round. Now facing each other without knowing each other’s name, wishing that month after month after month, the moon will shine magnificently on the gentleman. Swan goose flying forever in the light without limit. The ichthyosaur submerged on the river. Last night, staying leisurely in a deep pool dream, missing out the fall of the flowers. Pity the spring for not going home. The river water flew on spring time to the greatest extent. The moon on the river left and returned to the west. The slanting moon concealed deeply in the ocean of fogs. The road of the river is unlimited. Don’t know how many people will take advantage of the moon and return. The falling moon rocked the entire river tree.”
Hai wang’s eyes went between Chu Fei Yang and Yun Qian Meng once. Then he also glanced once at Hai Tian. He gave a hearty laugh and applauded: “Chu xiang have good literary talent! Mis
s Yun is very good at music! Really coordinated well!”
Hai wang’s words made everyone’s soul come back. The eyes of the ladies that were full of jealousy were first pinned on Hai Tian and have now turned to Yun Qian Meng. The worst one was Hai Tian’s knife-like gaze.
Chu Fei Yang’s eyes swept lightly over Hai wang and laughed: “Miss Yun played according to the scenery. Benxiang made a poetry according to the scenery. Really let wangye see a joke!”
Just a few words easily changed everyone’s opinion. Everyone now realized that Yun Qian Meng’s song was unrelated to romance and just a praise to the scenery and Hai Tian’s song contained her deep feelings. Their hostility went back to Hai Tian.
Hai wang didn’t think that Chu Fei Yang was such a tough character. With a few simple words, he let the hostility point back at Tian er. Although his heart has some displeasure on the surface, his smile became more warm.
Hai Tian saw that Yun Qian Meng shone like this and saw that between Chu Fei Yang and Yun Qian Meng, there’s a deep connection, she got really furious. She stroked the guqin painted with roses that she had used and smiled: “It appears that miss Yun is a hidden master! Presumably your guqin skills must also be superb.”
The people heard Hai Tian mention guqin. In the entire Xi Chu, Hai Tian’s guqin is the most outstanding, but she’s making Yun Qian Meng play. Presumably, she’s determined to let Yun Qian Meng become a joke in front of everyone. Although they pity Yun Qian Meng in their hearts, they are also helpless.
At this time, Yun Qian Meng said modestly: “Chennu’s qin is just normal. I fear that it’ll taint wangye and everyone’s ears. Moreover, chennu just performed the pipa, it’ll be better to let other ladies perform for everyone!”
Comments:
My last chapter of Chu Wang Fei. I’ve translated a part of chapter 71. Hope you enjoy it
Soft nail: a tactful retort or rejection
Feng Qui Huang: female phoenix seeks male phoenix. A popular song when a woman is declaring her love for a man.
